Motor vehicle sealing arrangement

ABSTRACT

A window glass (3) is moveable relative to a motor vehicle door. A sealing arrangement (4) comprises on each side of the window glass (3) a sealing groove (9, 10) which is provided with a cover strip (12) of a thermoplastic plastics material in its regions which come into sliding contact with the window glass (3). The cover strip (12) is provided at least on its side facing the window glass (3) with a grooving which reduces or prevents squeaking noises.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a sealing arrangement and more particularly toseals for sealing openings in motor vehicles such as window glassopenings, doors, and sun roofs.

In one known sealing arrangement of this type (Patent Document EP 0 193133 A2) indentations are part of a pattern of roughness of microscopicsize produced for example by sandblasting.

From U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,377 it is known per se to fix a strip ofthermoplastic material on the base of a window sealing profile. Thestrip is provided with alternating ridges and furrows on a side whichfaces the window, with these ridges and furrows extending parallel toone another and at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the strip.The distance between adjacent ridges is so large that dirt or dustparticles in the furrows can be conducted along into lateral gutters ofthe profile. This profile should thus have, above all, self-cleaningproperties and protect the window from being scratched.

From EP 0 627 341 A1 it is known per se to provide a plastics profilewhich has a slide overlay on its sealing side. The slide overlaycomprises at least one coextruded sealing rib extending in thelongitudinal direction of the profile. Each sealing rib consists ofthermoplastic material which is harder than that of the plasticsmaterial of the profile.

In other known sealing arrangements (DE 34 05 973 A1 and DE 35 06 410A1) a cover strip serves to reduce the friction between a window glassand the sealing arrangement and thus to increase the relativeslideability. The side of the cover strip facing the window glass isflat and smooth.

It is also known to sinter a polyamide powder onto the sealing profileto increase the slideability, and thereby to produce a molten-smooth,especially low-friction outer surface of a cover strip.

Furthermore, it is known to mount on the sealing profile a cover striphaving flocking, in order to brush off moisture and foreign bodies froma window glass.

Particularly in the case of frameless window glass, such as one findsused in coupes or convertibles, these known types of cover strip haveled however to inadequacies. Above all, under certain operatingconditions, chiefly with wet window glass, squeaking or rumbling noisesoccur if the window glass is moved relative to the sealing arrangement.Annoying noises occur in particular with the ever increasing poweredmovement of the window glass.

Rattling and/or squeaking noises also occur if on the one hand, in thecase of a closed door of a motor vehicle, relative movements occurbetween the door and the body, and if on the other hand a roof member,in particular a pop-up/sliding sunroof or a moon roof, of a motorvehicle is opened or closed.

The object of the invention is to reduce or even eliminate entirelynoises which can arise through the movement of the window glass relativeto the sealing arrangement or of other closable components of the motorvehicle relative to the associated opening in the vehicle body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects of the present invention are achieved by a seal as describedherein for sealing a closure member such as a window glass, door, orsunroof with respect to an aperture in the body of a motor vehicle. Suchapertures in motor vehicles include window openings in vehicle doors,the door opening, and sunroof openings in the vehicle roof. The sealsealingly contacts a surface to close the aperture. The seal has asealing profile, a cover strip fixed on the sealing profile, and grooveson the cover strip. The cover strip is arranged on a region of thesealing profile to face the surface against which the seal contacts toclose the aperture.

The grooves effectively suppress noise, and prevents the generation ofvibrations in the window glass and sealing arrangement system in theevent of a movement of the window glass, these being vibrations whichlead to noises, particularly squeaking and rumbling noises. It isbelieved that such noises are created from a constant alternationbetween static friction and sliding friction (slip-stick effect). Bymeans of the grooves, uniform and constant friction properties arecreated between the window glass and the sealing arrangement or betweenthe closable component and the body opening under all operatingconditions. This leads to significant reduction, and even completeelimination, of noises, particularly squeaking and rumbling noisesarising from the window glass movements, under all practical temperatureand moisture conditions.

In the case of a roof element as the closable component, undesirablenoises between the roof element and the associated opening in the roofof the motor vehicle occur to a lesser degree when the roof element isclosed than when the roof element is being opened or is open inparticular settings. In the case of the latter settings, there aresettings in which the sealing profile is still in contact with thesealing surface. Even in these cases, the noises, particularly squeakingand rattling noises, are effectively reduced or even eliminated. Theroof element can consist of enameled sheet metal, or glass, or of glasscoated at the edge with plastics material, for example polyurethane. Thecover strip preferably consists essentially of high molecular weightpolyethylene. The grooves in the cover strip can be manufactured simplyand in a well controlled manner. The high molecular weight polyethyleneresults in an effective noise suppression. The polyethylene ispreferably peeled and can be employed for example as a cover striphaving a thickness of 0.2 mm.

The grooves can be arranged spaced from one another in their directionof alignment. Here, for example, the grooves can be from several mm upto several cm in length. The direction and arrangement of the groovesare preferably chosen to be the optimum for the particular prevailingoperating conditions.

The cover strip can further include fibers made from the same materialas the cover strip. The fibers can be created for example during themanufacture of the grooves from that material which is removed in thegrooving of the grooves. The fibers can be, for example, several mm longand very thin and fine.

These and further features and advantages of the invention will bedescribed in more detail hereinafter in relation to embodiments of theinvention which are given by way of example and which are illustrated inthe drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a door of a coupe,

FIG. 2 is the sectional view taken along the line II--II in FIG. 1, onan enlarged scale,

FIG. 3 is the sectional view according to FIG. 2 with the window glasslowered,

FIG. 4 is the sectional view taken along the line IV--IV in FIG. 1, onan enlarged scale,

FIG. 5 is the sectional view taken along the line V--V in FIG. 1, on anenlarged scale,

FIGS. 6 to 8 are plan views of a cover strip with respective differentlyorientated grooves,

FIG. 9 is the side view of a motor vehicle with sealing profile mountedalong a door opening of the body,

FIG. 10 shows the sealing profile used according to FIG. 9, on anenlarged scale,

FIG. 11 is the sectional view taken along the line XI--XI in FIG. 10,again on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of a pop-up/sliding sunroof,

FIG. 13 shows the sunroof of FIG. 12 in other operating positions, and

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a moon roof type sunroof of amotor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 are shown a doorframe 1 and a door 2 of a coupe. A framelesswindow glass 3 is arranged in the door 2 in a window slot and can beraised and lowered by manual or powered means in a manner known per se.The sealing of the window slot is effected by a sealing arrangement 4which is mounted at the upper edge of the door 2. Along the B-pillar 5of the coupe, with the door 2 closed, the at least partially raisedwindow glass 3 is sealed by a sealing arrangement 6. When, with the doorclosed, the window glass 3 is fully raised, a sealing arrangement 7along the upper margin of the doorframe 1 in FIG. 1 and which extends atthe left-hand side downwards into the so-called mirror triangle 8provides for the necessary sealing and holding of the window glass 3.

FIG. 2 makes it clear that the sealing arrangement 4 comprises a sealingprofile-9 and 10 on each side of the window glass 3. The sealingprofiles 9, 10 consist of per se known, suitable elastomers and aresecured to the door likewise in a manner known per se.

The sealing profile 9 which lies on the outside of the door 2 (FIG. 1)is provided at the top with a flocking 11 which is known per se and,extending downwards from the flocking 11, with a cover strip 12. Thecover strip 12 is for example only 0.2 mm thick and therefore in FIG. 2is shown only schematically and is shown with exaggerated thickness. Thecover strip 12 adheres fixedly to the sealing profile 9 and is providedon its side facing the window glass 3 with a profiling 13 of grooves 32(FIGS. 6 to 8).

The sealing profile 10 likewise carries a cover strip 12 on the windowglass side, this strip being provided on its side facing the windowglass 3 with grooves 32 (FIGS. 6 to 8).

FIG. 2 shows the situation in which the window glass 3 has been raisedupwards to above the sealing arrangement 4, i.e. exerting maximumcontact pressure against the sealing profiles 9, 10. Additionally, inFIG. 2, the sealing profiles 9, 10 are shown by broken lines in theircompletely relaxed initial positions.

FIG. 3 illustrates that operational state of the sealing arrangement 4in which the window glass 3 has been lowered below the sealingarrangement 4. In this condition, the sealing profiles 9, 10 are incontact with one another under a certain stress. The stress issufficient to seal off the window slot of the door 2 (FIG. 1) when thewindow glass 3 has been lowered below the sealing arrangement 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates details of the sealing arrangement 7. One isconcerned here with a compound profile 14 which comprises a profilestrip 15 of thermoplastics material formed essentially with a U-shapedcross-sectional surface area. The profile strip 15 is provided with aplurality of mounting holes 16 arranged spaced from one another in thelengthwise direction, with these holes being arranged each to receive asheet-metal screw 17 with play all round. Thus, the compound profile 14can be displaced within limits relative to the screws 17 in bothlongitudinal and transverse directions upon being-fitted, until theoptimum position of the compound profile 14 is achieved. Then, thesheet-metal screws 17 are tightened.

One lengthwise side of the profile strip 15 is formed as a firstcoupling member 18. A masking profile strip 19 is vulcanized to theprofile strip 15 along its lengthwise side which lies opposite the firstcoupling member 18. The masking profile strip 19 comprises an additionalprofile strip 20 of foam rubber which is vulcanized to a base 22 and toa limb 23 of the profile strip 15 by means of a coupling material 21. Acomponent of the masking profile strip 19 is a further profile strip 24of soft rubber which overlies the profile strip 15 and which isvulcanized to the additional profile strip 20 along one lengthwise sideand to a coupling profile strip 25 at its other lengthwise side. Thecoupling profile strip 25 consists of a thermoplastic plastics materialand comprises a second coupling member 27 which forms a snap closure 26with the first coupling member 18. On the side of the profile strip 15which lies opposite the additional profile strip 20 is vulcanized asealing profile strip 28 of foam rubber by means of the couplingmaterial 21.

In FIG. 4 is shown in chain-dotted lines, at the top, a body panel 29 towhich the compound profile 14 is to be mounted. For this, the toothedparts of the profile strips 20, 28 are pressed sealingly against thebody panel 29 and are correspondingly deformed. Up until the aforesaidtightening of the sheet-metal screws 17, the snap closure 26 is open andthe further profile strip 24 is folded downwards out of the path of thescrewdriver. After the tightening of the sheet-metal screws 17, thefurther profile strip 24 with the coupling profile strip 25 is foldedupwards and the snap closure 26 is closed. This creates a hollow chamber30 into which the window glass 3 can deform the further profile strip 24when the window glass 3 is raised, as is indicated by chain-dotted linesin FIG. 4.

The further profile strip 24 is provided on its region which comes intosliding contact with the window glass 3 with a cover strip 12 whichagain is shown exaggerated in thickness. This cover strip 12 is providedon its side facing the window glass 3 with the grooves 32 (FIGS. 6 to8).

FIG. 5 illustrates the sealing arrangement 6. This consists of a sealingprofile 31 of soft rubber which in a manner known per se is held inrails of the B-pillar 5.

Again, the sealing profile 31 carries on a region which comes intosliding contact with the window glass 3 with a cover strip 12 whichagain in FIG. 5 is shown exaggerated in thickness. The cover strip 12 isprovided on its side facing the window glass 3 with the grooves 32(FIGS. 6 to 8).

A greater or lesser number of oriented grooves 32 could be provided inthe surface of the cover strip 12 as is shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. Suchgrooves 32 can be made in any of various ways.

Preferably, these grooves 32 are each shorter than the cover strip 12.The grooves according to FIG. 6 extend substantially parallel to alengthwise direction 33 of the cover strip 12.

As shown in FIG. 7 the grooves 32 are arranged transversely to thelengthwise direction 33.

FIG. 8 shows grooves 32 which extend at an angle 34 of less than 90° tothe longitudinal direction 33.

FIG. 6 shows also that the cover strip 12 comprises fine fibers 35 ofits own material on its grooved side. These fibers 35 can be producedduring the manufacture of the grooves 32.

Preferably, the cover strip 12 consists of a high molecular weightpolyethylene in all the embodiments mentioned above.

In all the Figures of the drawings the same components are provided withthe respective same reference numbers.

FIG. 9 shows a motor vehicle 38 whose A-pillars 39, roof frame 40 andC-pillars 41 are provided on each side of the motor vehicle 38 with acontinuous sealing arrangement 4 (FIG. 10). Internal surfaces of windowframes 43 of the doors 2, 2 and consisting of enameled sheet metalcooperate sealingly with an outer face 42 (FIGS. 10 and 11) of eachsealing arrangement 4 when the doors 3 are closed.

FIG. 10 shows that the sealing arrangement 4 comprises a first section44 on the A-pillar 39, a second section 45 on the roof frame 40 and athird section 46 on the C-pillar.

According to FIG. 11, the sealing arrangement comprises a sealingprofile 47 whose outer face 42 carries the cover strip 12. The coverstrip 12 is again here shown exaggerated in thickness and can be formedin any way and any manner evident herein. One component of the sealingarrangement 4, according to FIG. 11, is a clamping profile 48 which, ina manner known per se, is formed with a U-shaped cross-section and isprovided with a metallic reinforcement 49. The sealing arrangement 4 isfitted by means of the clamping profile 48 on a flange of the body whichextends along the A-pillar 39, the roof frame 40 and the C-pillar 41.

FIG. 12 shows a section from a roof 50 of the motor vehicle 38. In theroof 50 is formed an aperture 51 whose edge 52 is of enameled sheetmetal. The aperture 51 can be closed sealingly, with the aid of thesealing arrangement 4, by a closure member 53 which is formed here as apop-up/sliding sunroof. The sealing arrangement 4 comprises a sealingprofile 54 which is fixed, for example by adhesive, along the peripheryof the closure member 53. On its external surface which cooperates withthe edge 52 the sealing profile 54 is again provided with the coverstrip 12 which is represented in FIG. 12, for simplification only, as athickened line.

FIG. 12 shows the closure member 53 in the so-called ventilationposition, in which a leading edge 55 of the closure member 53 with itspart of the peripheral sealing profile 54 stays in sealing contact withthe opposing portion of the edge 52. This leading edge 55 represents soto speak a horizontal axis about which the closure member 53 can bepivoted up or down from the closed position or the ventilation positionin the directions of a double-headed arrow 56. These pivoting movementscan lead to undesirable noise, particularly rattling or squeaking noisesin prior art arrangements. This is caused by relative movement betweenthe sealing profile and the edge of the roof aperture. This tendencytowards the creation of noise is strongly reduced or even completelyeliminated by the provision of the cover strip 12 provided with grooves32 (FIGS. 6 to 8).

FIG. 13 shows the closure member 53 of FIG. 12 in another operatingposition. Here, the closure member 53 has been pivoted downwards in theone direction of a double-headed arrow 57 about the leading edge 55,from the ventilation setting shown in FIG. 12 or from the setting inwhich the aperture 51 is completely closed. Again with this pivotingmovement or with the opposite direction pivoting movement correspondingto the other direction of the double-headed arrow 57, this could lead toundesirable noises of the type described above, which again however arecurbed by the cover strip 12.

From the lower pivoted position of the closure member 53 which is shownby solid lines in FIG. 13, the closure member 53 can be moved into thesetting in a cassette 58 of the roof 50, this position being shown bychain-dotted lines and completely freeing the aperture 51.

FIG. 14 shows a closure member 59 formed as a moon roof. The closuremember 59 can be pivoted and reversed only from the horizontal settingin which the aperture 51 is closed into the ventilation setting shown inFIG. 14, by movement about its leading edge 55 in the directions of thedouble-headed arrow 56. Two embodiments of closure member 59 are shownsimultaneously in FIG. 16. On the left-hand side of FIG. 14 the closuremember 59 is shown as a glass window with rounded edge 60. On theright-hand side of FIG. 14 the edge 60 is shown coated with a marginalskirt 61 of polyurethane.

Either the edge 60 or the marginal skirt 61 cooperates sealingly withthe sealing profile 54 of the sealing arrangement 4. The sealing profile54 is in this case fixed, for example by adhesive, to the edge 52 of theaperture 51. On its inner surface which cooperates with the edge 60 ormarginal skirt 61, the sealing profile 54 carries the aforementionedcover strip 12 with grooves 32 (FIGS. 6 to 8). Here again, the coverstrip 12 has the effect that upon relative movements during the pivotingof the closure member 59, noises are either greatly reduced or, ingeneral, no longer occur.

What is claimed:
 1. A seal for sealing a moveable closure member such asa window glass, door or sunroof with respect to an aperture in the bodyof a motor vehicle by sealingly contacting a surface, said sealcomprising:a sealing profile; a cover strip fixed on said sealingprofile and having a side positioned to face said surface, said coverstrip formed from a polymer, said polymer consisting essentially of highmolecular weight polyethylene; and multiple grooves arranged on saidside of said cover strip to face said surface, said grooves extending inone direction and are parallel to one another.
 2. A seal in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said grooves are arranged spaced from one anotherin said one direction.
 3. A seal in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidgrooves extend parallel to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.4. A seal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said grooves extendtransversely to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 5. A seal inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said grooves extend at an angle of lessthan 90 degrees to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 6. A sealin accordance with claim 2 wherein said cover strip comprises finefibers on said side, said fibers comprising a material the same as thatof said cover strip.
 7. A seal in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidgrooves extend parallel to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.8. A seal in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grooves extendtransversely to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 9. A seal inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said grooves extend at an angle of lessthan 90 degrees to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 10. Aseal in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cover strip comprises finefibers on said side, said fibers comprising a material the same as thatof said cover strip.
 11. A seal for sealing a window glass moveable inan aperture of a motor vehicle door, said seal comprising:a sealingprofile securable to the door and having a region arranged to sealinglyengage said window glass when secured to said door; a cover strip fixedon said region of said sealing profile and having a side positioned tocontact said window glass when said window glass sealingly engages saidregion, said cover strip formed from a polymer, said polymer consistingessentially of high molecular weight polyethylene; and multiple groovesarranged on said side of said cover strip, said grooves extending in onedirection and are parallel to one another.
 12. A seal in accordance withclaim 11 wherein said grooves are arranged spaced from one another insaid direction.
 13. A seal in accordance with claim 11 wherein saidgrooves extend parallel to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.14. A seal in accordance with claim 11 wherein said grooves extendtransversely to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 15. A sealin accordance with claim 11 wherein said grooves extend at an angle ofless than 90 degrees to a lengthwise direction of said cover strip. 16.A seal in accordance with claim 11 wherein said cover strip comprisesfine fibers on said side, said fibers comprising a material the same asthat of said cover strip.
 17. A seal for sealing a closure member withrespect to an aperture in the body of a motor vehicle where the closuremember is movable relative to an edge of the aperture, said sealcomprised:a sealing profile securable to said edge and capable ofsealingly engaging a surface of said closure member; a cover strip fixedto said sealing profile and having a side arranged to contact saidsurface, said cover strip formed from a polymer, said polymer consistingessentially of high molecular weight polyethylene; and multiple groovesarranged on a side of said cover strip to face said edge of theaperture, said grooves extending in one direction and are parallel toone another.
 18. A seal in accordance with claim 17 wherein said groovesare arranged spaced from one another in said direction.
 19. A seal inaccordance with claim 17 wherein said grooves extend parallel to alengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 20. A seal in accordance withclaim 17 wherein said grooves extend transversely to a lengthwisedirection of said cover strip.
 21. A seal in accordance with claim 17wherein said grooves extend at an angle of less than 90 degrees to alengthwise direction of said cover strip.
 22. A seal in accordance withclaim 17 wherein said cover strip comprises fine fibers on said side,said fibers comprising a material the same as that of said cover strip.23. A seal arrangement comprising in combination:a movable closuremember for an aperture in the body of a motor vehicle; and a seal forsealing said movable closure member by sealingly contacting a surfacethereof, said seal comprising a sealing profile; a cover strip fixed onsaid sealing profile and having a side positioned to face said surface,said cover strip formed from a polymer, said polymer consistingessentially of high molecular weight polyethylene; and multiple groovesarranged on said side of said cover strip facing said surface, saidgrooves extending in one direction parallel to one another; wherein saidseal is secured to said closure member by sealingly contacting saidclosure member surface, thereby sealing said closure member with respectto said aperture.